The anchor's Today Show successor, Vieira, has now suggested that that Couric's choice to vacate the anchor chair seems logical, especially if she launches her own syndicated talkshow as has been speculated.

"I'm not at all surprised," Vieira told USA Today. "The rumour mill has been going crazy for months."

Vieira also noted that it seemed obvious to her that Couric had begun to look forward to other career prospects in recent months.

"I get the impression, if you read the tea leaves over the last year, it was pretty clear her heart had moved on. And that's okay… I'm sure it was probably a tough decision. I'm sure she weighed every factor possible. I just wish her the best."

Discussing her own rumoured departure from Today, Vieira revealed that she is currently weighing her own options and has yet to decide on whether she will stay on as one of NBC's morning show co-hosts.

She explained: "The truth is my contract's coming up and anytime it does it's a time to do real soul-searching and find what's right for your life. It's hard because I've had a number of really terrific jobs: 60 Minutes, The View and now The Today Show.

"Leaving any one of them is a tough decision, but I think it's really important to re-evaluate where you are, so that contract end gives you that ability to do that. It's a natural time to do that."

Vieira had served as moderator on The View for nearly a decade, before departing the daytime talkshow in 2006 to replace Couric as host of The Today Show.